Massie files impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Hegseth

Massie files impeachment against Hegseth

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, setting up a House vote within two days.

Eight charges against the Defense Secretary

Massie's resolution accuses Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors and lists eight specific charges, including three for illegally waging war against Iran in violation of the War Powers Resolution.

Other charges include extrajudicial killings

The allegations also include ignoring laws to minimize civilian casualties, overseeing extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean with strikes on alleged drug boats, and suppressing free speech.

Charges include Venezuela and Yemen

Massie also charges Hegseth with capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization and illegally waging war against Yemen in violation of the War Powers Resolution.

Hegseth dismisses the effort as sham

In a video released last Thursday, Hegseth defended his Pentagon record and dismissed Massie's effort as sham articles of impeachment, saying it will not work against him.

“Didn't work against President Trump and it won't work with me.”

Republicans divided on impeachment

Rep. Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican, said impeaching Hegseth would be hypocritical because administrations going back to the Korean War have largely ignored Congress' war powers efforts.

“I think trying to scapegoat Pete Hegseth is just the status quo politics in Washington.”

Impeachment likely in House, unlikely in Senate

There could be sufficient votes to impeach Hegseth in the House with support from all Democrats, Massie, and a handful of Republicans. However, conviction in the Senate requires two-thirds and is unlikely.